Concerns have been raised about Waterford council engineer staffing following the retirement of an engineer in West Waterford, with questions over succession planning and service impact.

The issue was highlighted by Sinn Féin councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy at the April plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Concerns over lack of succession planning

Cllr. Mulcahy said the council had known about the retirement well in advance but failed to adequately prepare for the departure.

He told the meeting that West Waterford is currently short an engineer and questioned whether similar gaps exist elsewhere in the county.

“If you were running a business and you knew a key member of staff was leaving, you’d plan in advance,” he said.

He added that there appeared to be no proper handover process in place, raising concerns about the loss of experience and knowledge.

Cllr. Mulcahy asked when the position would be filled and what impact the vacancy is currently having on service delivery in West Waterford.

“This does not make business sense and will cost the council more time and money in the long run,” he said, adding that it also increases pressure on existing staff.

Council says contingency measures were in place

Responding to the concerns, Director of Services Gabriel Hynes rejected the suggestion that the council failed to plan.

He said contingency arrangements had been implemented and pointed to an increase in staffing levels in recent years.

Mr Hynes stated that the engineering team in the Dungarvan and Lismore District has grown by 33 per cent over the past two years, including the appointment of an additional technician.

He also highlighted the recruitment of a new Senior Executive Engineer with responsibilities across multiple districts, including flood management at piers and harbours and storm drainage projects.

Mr Hynes maintained that overall engineering resources in West Waterford have increased.

Wider challenges in recruiting engineers

The discussion around Waterford council engineer staffing also reflected broader challenges in recruitment, which were acknowledged by Chief Executive Sean McKeown.

Speaking at the same meeting, Mr McKeown said the council is facing difficulties in attracting staff, particularly at certain grades.

“There are difficulties at the moment in a full employment economy in getting staff,” he said.

He added that sourcing candidates with the right skillset is proving challenging, not only for the council but also for major employers in the region.

Mr McKeown also pointed to emigration as a contributing factor, noting that many young people continue to leave Ireland for experience abroad.

Ongoing concerns over service delivery

While council management insists that staffing levels have improved, concerns remain among elected representatives about the immediate impact of vacancies on service delivery.

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